Gabriel
Boy name · #37 in 2025 · Uniqueness 40/100
In 2025, 6,569 baby boys were named Gabriel, placing it at #37 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #22, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 274 boys born in 2025 was named Gabriel.
Babies named Gabriel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Gabriel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 13,041 boys were named Gabriel — good for #24 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gabriel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gabriel in class?
Gabriel scores 40 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Gabriel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gabriel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Gabriels were TX (792), CA (742), FL (518), NY (395), IL (243). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Gabriel
Statistically, parents drawn to Gabriel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Angel, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jackson, and Isaac.
AngelNathanielSamuelJacksonIsaacEmmanuelEzekielIsaiah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gabriel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,569 | #37 |
| 2024 | 6,410 | #43 |
| 2023 | 6,786 | #38 |
| 2022 | 7,257 | #36 |
| 2021 | 7,302 | #38 |
| 2020 | 7,172 | #38 |
| 2019 | 7,768 | #37 |
| 2018 | 8,439 | #35 |
| 2017 | 9,178 | #31 |
| 2016 | 10,279 | #25 |
| 2015 | 10,913 | #22 |
| 2014 | 10,961 | #24 |
| 2013 | 11,245 | #24 |
| 2012 | 11,580 | #24 |
| 2011 | 12,367 | #24 |
| 2010 | 12,891 | #21 |
| 2009 | 12,834 | #22 |
| 2008 | 13,041 | #24 |
| 2007 | 12,911 | #28 |
| 2006 | 12,543 | #28 |
| 2005 | 12,759 | #28 |
| 2004 | 11,563 | #32 |
| 2003 | 12,522 | #29 |
| 2002 | 12,059 | #32 |
| 2001 | 10,917 | #38 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gabriel a popular boy name?
Gabriel ranked #37 among boys in 2025 with 6,569 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #22.
When was the name Gabriel most popular?
Gabriel peaked in 2008, when 13,041 American boys received the name (ranked #24 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gabriel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 274 newborn American boys was named Gabriel. It scores 40/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.